Automatic railroad-signal.



I i i Hum H. T. BOWERSOCKV AUTOMATIC RAJLROAD SIGNAL. APPLICATJON FILED MAY 5. l9i6.

1,250,784 Patented Dec. 18,1917.

" t nirnn stares m tar entice.

HIRAM r. nownnsocs, OFLIMA, QHIQ' Y Amer/lame nartaoan-sienat.

To all whbmz't may concern:

Be 'it known that I, IIIRAM T. Bownnsocn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and'State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Automatic Railroad-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchv as will enable others skilledin the art to which "it appertains to make and use the'samel j v This invention has forfits object to provide an improved and eflicient signal primarily designed for use in connection with railway cars and adapted to be automztticallyactuated by track-carried meansforautomatically sounding the signal as the fear approaches a crossing, switch or the like.

Another object is the provision of an automatic railway signal embodying a novel type of trip-actuated valve for controlling the signal and also associated with the train pipe of the car to automatically open said train pipe and thereby cause the brakes of the car to be automatically set.

With these and-other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation of a locomotive and track, illustrating the invention applied to'use,

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the valve. 7

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates generally a well known type of locomotive adapted to travel upon a track 6 and equipped with the usual train pipe 7 for controlling the air brake system thereof.

In applying the invention to use, a vertically disposed valve case 8, preferably of cylindrical formation, is supported in the cab or other part of the locomotive and slidably receives a vertically movable cylindrical valve 9, having a port-10 extending transversely therethrough. The opposite ends of the valve 9 are connected with'longitudinally extending stems 11 and 12, the lower stem 12 being pivotally connected with a shoe 18, which is pivotally secured at its rear end, as at 14, to adepending bracket 15 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917. 7 Application med May 5,1916. Seria1No.95,590.

attached to the locomotive 5, and normally,

disposed above thetrack 6. The valve 9 is normally retained in downwardly extended positionby the tension of a coil spring 16,

which is arranged in the valve casing inter.- mediate the valve and an apertured partition A siren, or other type of signal 18,issup ported upon the front of the locomotive and is connected with an airor steam pipe 19, which extends rearwardly from the signaland connects with the lower portion of the valve casing 8 by a port 20. A second port 21 is formed in'the valve casing diametrically opposite the port 20 and is'adapted to be connected therewith bytlie p0rt10 ofthe valve so as to connect' the steamer air supply pipe '22 with the pipe 19 and thus conduct air to the signal 18 for operating the latter. In its normal position, the valve 9is a pivoted lever 25 and a handle 26 connected therewith.

At a point above theports 20and 21 the valve casing 8connects with the train pipe 7 controlling the air brake system of the car,

and, when the valve is moved to its upperinost position, the port 10 thereof communicates with the terminal of the train pipe-'7 and permits the air to escape through the exhaust pipe 27 thereby effecting a reduction in the pressure of air in the train pipe and permitting the brakes to be automatically set.

The shoe 13 is adapted to be actuatedto move the valve 9 in position to register the port 10 with the ports 20 and 21 by a relatively stationary trip 28 fastened to the ties at a point in advance of a crossing, switch v or the like. The valve is moved to its uppermost position so as to register the port 10 thereof with the terminal of the train pipe 7 and the exhaust pipe 27 by a resilient trip 29, which is preferably connected with an actuating mechanism (not shown) for automatically moving the shoe into and out of the path of the shoe 13.

In operation, when the pivoted shoe 13 engages the trip 28 it is moved upwardly, thereby lifting the valve 9 and moving the port 10 into registration with the ports and 21 in the valve casing and permitting air to flow into and operate the signal 18. When thus actuated, the valve 9 is automatically locked in elevated position by the sprin actuated pawl 24, which automatically swings inwardly and engages under the tooth 23. The valve may be subsequently released and closed by pulling outwardly upon the handle 26, swinging the lever and withdrawing the pawl 24 from the tooth 23. The trip 29, when moved into the path of the pivoted'shoe 13, effects an upward move ment of said shoe and also of the valve 9,

moving the port 10 thereof into registration nism, of a valve casing supported upon the locomotive and having a closed bottom and a partition arranged therein, a valve mounted in said casing intermediate said partition and bottom, a shoe pivotally connected at one end to said locomotive and pivotally connected at the opposite end with said valve, a fiuid'operated signal connected with and controlled by said valve, a spring arranged in said easing intermedlate said valve and said partition to normally hold said valve in closed position, an upper and lower valve stem connected to said valve and extending respectively through the partition and bottom, outwardly projecting ratchet teeth formed on the upper valve stem, and means for engaging one of said ratchet teeth for automatically locking said valve in adjusted position, one of said ratchet teeth engaging the partition to limit the downward movement of said valve, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of tWo witnesses.

- HIRAM T. BOWVERSOCK. VVit-nesses L. D. MELL, O. L. CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

